Hack-A-Sat 3 (HAS3) begins with a virtual Qualification Event to be held May 21-22. Teams will compete in a Jeopardy-style format, earning points based on speed and accuracy, for a chance to win one of ten $10,000 cash prizes. Registration for the Qualifying Event is open to the public. To register, find rules and eligibility, and sign up to stay informed about all contest updates, visit hackasat.com.
Eight (8) teams from the Qualifying Event will advance the HAS3 Final Event – an attack/defend-style Capture-the-Flag hacking competition. Teams will defend their satellite system while employing offensive measures on their opponents’ systems. While in previous years the competition took place on physical hardware called flatsats, this year’s competition is designed to take place completely within digital twin software. The digital twin simulates a more realistic space environment for the competition compared with previous years. Geared toward ethical hackers with more advanced technical knowledge of space systems, the HAS3 final event will take place from October 22-23, 2022. The top three ranked teams will receive $50,000 for first place, $30,000 for second place and $20,000 for third place.
Hack-A-Sat 3 is a springboard in the development of Moonlighter, an actual satellite being designed and built now for Hack-A-Sat 4….and beyond. Moonlighter is scheduled to launch in 2023, and will be the on-orbit platform for Hack-A-Sat 4, the world’s first Capture-The-flag cybersecurity competition in actual space.
As satellites provide the entire world with needed data transmission for capabilities like GPS and credit card transactions, the Departments of the Air & Space Force embrace the benefit of ethical hacking to advance cyber and space technology for both the military and industry.
